Search Criteria

Single Source. If an information type has only
one source, such as nisplus a routine using the switch
searches for the information in that source only. If
the routine finds the information, the routine returns a success status
message. If the routine does not find the information, the routine stops searching
and returns a different status message. What the routine does with the status
message varies from routine to routine.

Multiple Sources. If a table contains multiple
sources for a given information type, the switch directs the routine to search
in the first listed source. If the routine finds the information, the routine
returns a success status message. If the routine
does not find the information in the first source, the routine tries the next
source. The routine searches all sources until the routine has found the
information, or until the routine is halted by a return specification.
If all of the listed sources are searched without finding the information,
the routine stops searching and returns a non-success status
message.